They had always been closer than they knew. Growing up just a block apart, they moved through childhood and adolescence in parallel, aware of each other, yet never truly crossing paths. For years, he sent a simple “happy birthday,” and for years, she didn’t notice. Until the eleventh time. One reply changed everything. Perhaps the universe had been patient all along, after all, Cosmic strings do not break; they wait. Timing was never late - it was perfectly precise.